MPG - Us & Them
Congress is debating legislation to increase motor vehicle gas mileage standards in the U.S. to 35 MPG. That’s no big deal in my book.
This past August, while on vacation in Germany and Switzerland, we rented an Audi S3 from Hertz and got 44 MPG! It’s a fabulous car, by the way, and available in most places around the world except the U.S. … probably because it gets great gas mileage.
I don’t understand why there would be any debate over increasing motor vehicle mileage requirements. Detroit and U.S. auto makers are going out of business because they make crappy cars that get crappy gas mileage at a time when competitors are making higher quality vehicles, and in most other sophisticated countries, cars are getting significantly higher miles per gallon or liter than here.
Can someone explain to me why any person or organization would advocate keeping mileage standards low?
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Brenda Griffiths | Oct 17, 2007 | Reply
On the other side of the Atlantic again - I get nearly 70mpg from my Peugeot 206.
Our petrol costs more than yours and we tend to drive much smaller cars.
Every time I visit the US I am always surprised at the size of the”gas guzzlers”
on the road.
diane wright | Oct 18, 2007 | Reply
It truly does not make sense that Congress is debating whether or not to pass the Clean Energy Bill. People are clamoring for ways to help improve our environment, especially through the cars they drive. I think this is evidenced, in part, by the recent popularity of cars like the Prius. I personally couldn’t afford the Prius but purchased a Honda, precisely because of the good gas mileage.
If Congress passes the bill and car manufacturers are required to make cars that get 35 mpg (by 2020), they will sell. Any American that drives a car will save money, car companies that are suffering now will likely sell more cars, and everyone will benefit.
I am actually working with a coalition in support of the bill and there is a petition you can sign to support it too.